A4S 310R Auto Transmission - No Reverse - Can I swap with different model trans?

[john318is]

I have a 1996 318is with M44 engine.

The auto transmission has no reverse (I bought it like this). It just rev's and goes nowhere, maybe moves a little if its on level ground).

Firstly is this likely to be a major problem?

If it needs to be replaced I found a couple of cheap used transmissions from a 1995 318is with M42 engine, and one from a 1997 318is with M44 engine. Both have different two letter codes on the trans serial number plate. One is "OV" the other I think is "VH" and mine I think is "RO" (based on realoem.com).

Does anyone know how to find out the differences in these models? Are they generally interchangable? The 1995 transmission is real cheap and has lower mileage but is it likely to fit?

[shogun]

BMW A4S 310R = GM 4L30E
A cure for no reverse

If your car has suddenly lost it's reverse, it could be your Tcc soleniod, when this solenoid goes out your locked out of reverse. A replacement may be purchased at, WWW Transmissionpartsusa.com under its GM name 4L30E, BMW calls it module
A4S 310R this may work for other transmissions too. The part is called a Torque converter lockup solenoid for 1990-1999, Part number 81396A. there is another for 2000-on. you'll see it listed when you go online. the BMW number is 24331218916. I hope this saves some of you the cost of a transmission replacement. The other reason they go out is the clip scears off in the reverse drum and cracks it.
http://www.transmissionpartsusa.com/

[locobrown]

BMW A4S 310R = GM 4L30E
A cure for no reverse

If your car has suddenly lost it's reverse, it could be your Tcc soleniod, when this solenoid goes out your locked out of reverse. A replacement may be purchased at, WWW Transmissionpartsusa.com under its GM name 4L30E, BMW calls it module
A4S 310R this may work for other transmissions too. The part is called a Torque converter lockup solenoid for 1990-1999, Part number 81396A. there is another for 2000-on. you'll see it listed when you go online. the BMW number is 24331218916. I hope this saves some of you the cost of a transmission replacement. The other reason they go out is the clip scears off in the reverse drum and cracks it.
http://www.transmissionpartsusa.com/

My 318is M44 just barely started having reverse problems. It hesitates to shift into reverse, 2-3 second pause. So the TCC can fix this problem then? I am wondering if the OP fixed the issue.

[john318is]

I didn't try and fix the transmission - instead I replaced it with a second hand one.

The first one off a very similar model didn't fit (different wiring connections), the second one had all sorts of problems so was replaced with a third one which is okay but still has issues (reversing up a hill causes loud banging noise, slow to engage reverse).

In the end I spent about the same money that I would have spent if I just had the original rebuilt.

Moral of the story is don't fit a second hand transmission unless you know it is good, or get your transmission rebuilt or repaired.

[tigerpro357]

I didn't try and fix the transmission - instead I replaced it with a second hand one.

The first one off a very similar model didn't fit (different wiring connections), the second one had all sorts of problems so was replaced with a third one which is okay but still has issues (reversing up a hill causes loud banging noise, slow to engage reverse).

In the end I spent about the same money that I would have spent if I just had the original rebuilt.

Moral of the story is don't fit a second hand transmission unless you know it is good, or get your transmission rebuilt or repaired.

why didnt you just convert it to manual?

[john318is]

Because it's my wife's car and she only drives auto. I have a 318is myself which is manual!

[tigerpro357]

Because it's my wife's car and she only drives auto. I have a 318is myself which is manual!

my wife said that too, then I taught her to drive stick, she now prefers auto lol

[john318is]

I taught my wife to drive manual too, and she does like it, but for the sake of my gearbox and clutch, I prefer her to drive auto.

[tigerpro357]

I taught my wife to drive manual too, and she does like it, but for the sake of my gearbox and clutch, I prefer her to drive auto.

lol, "hey hey hey, you grinding coffee with that thing?" lol

[locobrown]

My tranny is still good, so I am going to swap out the TCC solenoid and see what happens. I have already replaced the shift solenoids and its been shifting smoothly since. The shifting into gear bang is not a good sign. Sometimes the clutch packs and gears are okay, but the shift solenoids are bad causing it to slip or its simply low on oil. Another is the valve body that needs to be worked on, to clean out foreign obstructions, replace worn warped pistons and springs. I like to do all the work myself, so from experience im telling you. To rebuild is not difficult, just buy a rebuild kit from reputable manufacturer and follow the repair manual. The hardest part is removing the bolts from the engine to free the tranny, with trailer stands and a 3 ton jack is all you need.

Has anybody ran their car cold and noticed that it wouldn't shift into 2nd gear? That's a sign of low oil or a loss of pressure especially if it slips and bangs into 2nd gear. It happened to me once, I never thought I was low, until I was running late, and I warmed it up for about 30 seconds just enough so that the engine had enough oil flow. I never noticed it because I always warm up my car before driving it. That's one way of checking if your tranny is topped off, and the other is to check it while its hot.

- - - Updated - - -

Time is what keeps us from doing the repairs ourselves if we only have one car. I was stranded for 3 days once due to a broken radiator bleed screw. Stupid little thing broke so I couldn't drive it. Its hard to trust a mechanic because many independent shops when they supposedly "rebuild" they only replace the worn out part instead of replacing every single part possible and charge a ridiculous amount of money. People love to be lied to, especially if they know nothing about their car. Those types of people are taken advantage of. Honest mechanics will tell you what was replaced and charge you a fair price and others will say they swapped out the tranny and will give you warranty. What warranty? The warranty is whenever it fails they will only inspect the worn part and let you be on your way. Getting hustled off your our parts, when in reality they did nothing. Its a shady business, its hard to find trustworthy people, its best to do the repairs yourself whenever possible.